Teacher's aide had sex, baby with student: Sheriff's investigation

A former teacher's aide was arrested Wednesday for engaging in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student resulting in the aide's pregnancy. She's now facing a felony charge.

Mandy Morales, 30, was a teacher's aide and bus driver at McKinley Children's Center Canyon View School in San Dimas. She was no longer employed by the school Thursday.

L.A. County Sheriff's investigators in San Dimas say the investigation began when someone at Canyon View School found a journal belonging to Morales. The journal detailed an illicit ongoing sexual relationship with a student.

Morales was arrested Wednesday at her residence and booked for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and was released on $50,000 bond.

McKinley Children's Center Canyon View School is a private facility for special education for children with special needs as well as those with learning and behavioral challenges.

The boy in the case is not a special-needs student, according to investigators. He was 16 in 2011.

The sexual relationship allegedly began in 2011 and resulted in Morales giving birth to the student's child, confirmed by a DNA test.

Detectives say the student has seen the child more than once.

"Like any other 16-year-old boy, he probably didn't think that anything that she did was wrong, because he is the victim in this, and she is the predator in this," said L.A. County Sheriff's Sgt. Peter Hahn.

The baby boy, born about a year ago, was in the care of Morales's sister.

Morales is due back in court on September 11.

The McKinley Children's Center released a statement:

"We are aware that this is an active law enforcement investigation and we are not able to comment except that we have been fully cooperative with law enforcement and that Ms. Morales is no longer an employee of Canyon View School. The protection, privacy care, and safety of the children we serve is our highest priority, and we shall continue our cooperation with law enforcement authorities. Canyon View School has an excellent reputation for providing the highest level of education to students, and, of course this will continue. We also ask that you respect the privacy and dignity of our children, parents, and staff throughout this process." -- Al Mason, Chief Executive Officer.

Authorities are concerned there may be more victims.

If you have information related to the case, contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273.